Advance Review: ‘Odin’ #2 Blurs The Line Between Fantasy And Reality
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
This limited series takes an odd turn in only its second issue, further blurring the lines between what is real and what is imagined. Hopefully things will start making sense soon, but the safe bet is that it will get weirder before things get clearer.
Overall
8/10What is real? Is a dream part of reality? What about a nightmare? How can you truly know the difference? And does that difference ultimately matter?
It’s next to impossible — at this point anyway — to know what’s real and what’s fantasy in Odin #2. And that is likely part of the point.
What we do know for certain is that undercover journalist Adela Weber has infiltrated a group of young white supremacists who are trying to bring the Norse god Odin to Earth. We’re also pretty sure that they group just ate one of their companions while under the influence of some pretty gnarly drugs.
Beyond that, writers Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion IV are leaving us guessing. We get a little backstory about Robert — actually Roberto — who in a pathetic bid to fit in has a swastika branded into his chest. Whether Robert actually makes it out of this issue alive is open to interpretation, at least until the next issue hits comic book stores.
If all of this sounds confusing, it is. That does not make it a bad story, though. It simply requires a little patience and faith in the storytellers. This nine-issue limited series is still young, after all.
Artist Letizia Cadonici focuses primarily on faces, using the snowy Norwegian setting as a smart excuse to largely ignore backgrounds. It places the real terror directly on the humans, which given the white supremacist subject matter, seems awfully appropriate.
Despite the number of characters, Cadonici does a good job of distinguishing each of them. Despite the occasional bloodletting, her style never descends into gore. It leaves plenty to the readers’ interpretation.
Still, this issue feels like one that could have come a few more chapters into the story. The confusing action could alienate some readers who are still trying to figure out whether they will stick with this title or look elsewhere for some escape.
Odin #2 — written by Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion IV, illustrated by Letizia Cadonici, colored by Jordie Bellaire, and lettered by Tom Napolitano — will be available Wednesday in comic book stores and on digital platforms from Image Comics.
